science
The apples and oranges of academic research funding
Two weeks ago, the NIH released a bombshell proposal to cap what it pays research grant recipients for overhead costs (indirect costs) at 15% of the grant amount. While that's a fraction of what most universities receive from the federal government, it's close to what private foundations pay for indirect costs — part of the justification put forth by the NIH in making the change.
But several scientific funding experts told STAT's Anil Oza that the comparison isn't a fair one. Part of it is historical precedent, as universities have come to rely on federal funding — and accept less than is needed from private sources because of that. On top of that, sometimes a private foundation will allow researchers to label certain costs as "direct" that the government would deem "indirect."
Read more from Anil on the distinctions between private and public funding for academic research.
first opinion
What's next for long Covid sufferers?
In December 2020, at the end of President Trump's first term, Congress allocated $1.15 billion to the NIH for research on the lasting health consequences of Covid-19. Now, a little more than four years later, Trump has disbanded the HHS secretary's Advisory Committee on Long COVID. In a new First Opinion essay, physician Steven Phillips argues that the decision could signal the end of meaningful federal involvement in fighting the disease for millions of long Covid sufferers.
But it's not only a Trump thing, Phillips says. The demise of the committee "encapsulates the strikingly unproductive federal government long Covid track record of the past four years," he writes. Read more on what Phillips sees as the admittedly bleak outlook for the long Covid ecosystem in today's political environment.
politics
Another member of Congress pushes for action on UnitedHealth
Following complaints from constituents, a New York congressman is launching an examination of UnitedHealth Group's management of large physician groups in the state's Hudson Valley region. The inquiry seeks to gather information from community members about the quality and accessibility of health care services since UnitedHealth Group's Optum subsidiary purchased two local medical groups in 2022 and 2023.
The statement announcing the examination cites STAT's yearlong investigation, titled Health Care's Colossus, that found UnitedHealth's insurance arm pays Optum's medical groups higher rates than competing practices for common services, raising costs for consumers and undermining competition. Read more from STAT's Casey Ross on the latest action a member of Congress has taken regarding UnitedHealth.
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